The 5 Best Coffee Shops In Manhattan, According To Reviews

The city that never sleeps runs on coffee shops, be it served in a paper cup from a bodega or on fine china in a stylish cafe. Manhattan's coffee culture is more than a caffeine habit: It's a lifestyle, an aesthetic, and sometimes even a refuge from the city's nonstop pace. The borough has over 50 neighborhoods, all bursting with local shops. These range from beautiful cafes designed for lingering to coffee spots with cozy corners for reading to casual neighborhood joints. No matter your preferred hangout, the best Manhattan coffee shops offer a sense of place as distinct as their brews.

With so many options, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to go for that all-important cup of coffee. Luckily, we did the work for you, combing through Reddit pages, Tripadvisor reviews, and local recommendations to narrow it down to five excellent options. The writer has also had the pleasure of trying more than a few of these spots herself.

Located in NoMad, Felix Roasting Co. feels less like a cafe and more like a meticulously curated salon for coffee lovers who want more than just a caffeine boost. Set in an elegant late-19th-century-inspired space, the interior is a work of art. Velvet swivel chairs, teal and blush walls, and a massive copper-leaf dome hover over an oval bar. One of the most striking touches? A hand-drawn mosaic mural composed of 500 individual tiles that draws you deeper into Felix's dreamy aesthetic.

But Felix is more than a beautiful backdrop. The cafe's menu is just as thoughtful. Expect high-quality roasts, house-made nut milks, ganaches, and syrups, plus signature drinks like their hickory-smoked s'mores latte or a deconstructed espresso tonic with Persian lime and cardamom. For food, there are light bites (smoked salmon bagels, whipped ricotta with fig toast, and avocado toast) alongside pastries like croissants from Supermoon Bakehouse.

The atmosphere has a slow, deliberate pace, making it ideal for lingering over your cup or treating it like a destination in its own right. As one Wanderlog reviewer put it, "the interior is absolutely stunning, and the vibe matches it. I had the deconstructed espresso tonic; it was absolutely worth the price." Felix transforms the ritual of getting coffee into an experience: every detail, from the terrazzo floor to hand-drawn wallpaper, is crafted to make you feel immersed in the glamour of bustling Manhattan. You're also only a few blocks from Central Park, America's top tourist attraction, and the perfect place for a stroll with your coffee.

Vietnamese coffee is having a major moment in New York, and Lê Phin, tucked into the East Village on E 10th St, feels like a small but powerful ambassador of that tradition. The café's aesthetic channels a refined minimalism with airy white-brick walls, light wood furnishings, and fresh flowers, bringing a calm, gentle energy to the busy neighborhood.

Here, the phin filter sits at the heart of their coffee ritual. Traditional Vietnamese coffee, slow-dripped through a metal brewing tool called a phin, offers a rich, bold cup rooted in time and patience. Lê Phin elevates it further through thoughtful presentation: Lattes infused with house-made pandan syrup, black-sesame, or even turmeric-ginger, often sweetened with less refined sugar.

Community also shapes the vibe. Lê Phin's owner, Kim Lê, worked as a quality coffee grader in Vietnam, so the drinks here are deeply rooted in her heritage. The cozy, sun-drenched space and its welcoming, soft-spoken staff have garnered a loyal following. On Reddit, one fan summed it up: "I'm a huge fan of Le Phin in the East Village! Very sweet, borderline addicting, and the store itself has a fantastic ambience!" This is definitely a coffee shop for the romantic.

In the heart of the East Village, Abraço (which means "hug" in Portuguese) is a small-but-spirited place that truly lives up to its name, serving as a neighborhood anchor and beloved gathering spot. Despite its size, Abraço makes a big impression. Its design is intimate and unpretentious with warm lighting, a communal table, vintage vinyl records spinning on a turntable, and pastries baked in-house. The vibe encourages conversation and connection. Don't expect to get work done there, as the cafe doesn't allow laptops and there's no Wi-Fi.

The coffee here is bold and confident. Baristas pull sharp espresso shots (often with their house-roasted beans), and drinks like cortados or sparkling espresso creams are local favorites. On the food side, they're known for Mediterranean-leaning pastries and light savory bites like olive oil cake, shortbread cookies, frittatas, and more.

Abraço also has deep roots in the community. The owners, Jamie McCormick and Elizabeth Quijad, have created a space that feels like an old friend's living room, complete with regulars whose names and faces even appear on their coffee bags. Reddit users echo that warmth: "Abraço in East village has the best coffee. Great vibes too," said one devotee. Another fan wrote: "I had the two best cortados of my life there ... incredible." Unplug, enjoy some seriously strong coffee, charmingly memorable flavors, and a vibe that is unmistakably New York cool.

Variety Coffee Roasters brings a refined, mid-century modern sensibility to Manhattan's cafe scene, especially at its Upper East Side location. With clean lines, warm wood accents, and a bright, minimalist layout, it creates a calm, soothing backdrop. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, sip thoughtfully, and maybe even work through the NYT crossword. However, the Manhattan branch is just one chapter in Variety's story. The company actually began in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, back in 2008. Over time, it expanded. In 2014, it built an in-house roastery in Bushwick, and by 2018, Variety was opening spots in Chelsea and on the Upper East Side.

Variety's philosophy centers on freshness and seasonal sourcing. The menu shifts based on what's growing in coffee-producing regions, and they roast daily in Brooklyn to highlight the nuances of each bean. That dedication shows in their brews. They feel intentional, clean, and balanced rather than loud or over-roasted.

Patrons praise more than just the coffee. On Yelp, an early visitor to the UES location noted a "very cool ... beautiful atmosphere" and "friendly, knowledgeable staff." Another Yelper added that their Americano starts "smooth," then reveals a "sweet aftertaste," a sign of light-touch roasting that still packs a punch. All told, Variety delivers a quietly stylish experience rooted in Brooklyn's hip energy but thoughtfully adapted for Manhattan.

A true Manhattan classic, the Hungarian Pastry Shop in Morningside Heights (just across from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine) brings old-world European charm wrapped in neighborhood warmth. Founded in 1961 by Hungarian immigrants, the café's dim lighting, well-worn booths, and vintage décor evoke the feel of a literary salon, or a place where ideas flow as freely as the coffee. In 1976, the shop was purchased by a Greek family, and today it's run by third-generation owner Philip Binioris. Despite the passage of decades, much remains unchanged: There is no Wi-Fi, and they still serve bottomless cups of coffee, inviting patrons to sit and stay awhile.

Regulars include Columbia University students, local writers, and lifelong New Yorkers. Authors such as Ta-Nehisi Coates, Nathan Englander, and Julie Otsuka have written parts of their books here. Tripadvisor reviewers often highlight the pastries, calling them "handmade, fresh, and deeply nostalgic." One of the more quirky (and legendary) features is the bathroom wall, covered in decades of graffiti and intellectual scribbles,  from philosophical musings to political commentary, turning a mundane space into a strangely profound dialogue board.

The Hungarian Pastry Shop feels woven into Manhattan's intellectual and cultural fabric. It's the kind of place young writers daydream about when considering moving to the big city. Whether you come for a buttery Danish, a strong cup of coffee, or simply a seat and a page, it's a refuge where history, creativity, and community meet. Go on a coffee crawl and join the buzzing energy of the city. 

Manhattan is full of coffee spots, some excellent, some truly awful. So, how did we narrow down the options to these five coffee shops? First, we scoured Reddit pages like r/FoodNYC and r/espresso for local recommendations. We also used sites like Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Wanderlog to pinpoint which coffee shops seemed to be causing the most stir.

Beyond that, I'm a bit of a coffee shop cultist, and every time I travel to a new city, I make a point of finding the best places to enjoy an espresso. New York is one of my favorite cities to visit, and so I've had the chance to try a few of the cafes on this list. And for more caffeine-fueled adventures, check out some of the best cities in the country for enjoying a cup of Joe.